iCloud is a cloud storage service that allows you to easily back up photos, videos, notes, files, etc. on Apple products such as iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
iCloud gives you 5GB of free storage, but it fills up quickly and you run out of space.
This article will show you how to reduce iCloud storage space easily. We will also show you how to charge a paid plan for iCloud to get more storage. Finally, we will also introduce how to back up data such as photos and videos to a PC or optical disc.
How to check iCloud storage space
First, let's check your iCloud storage space and analyze how much space each app is consuming.
How to check from iPhone:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap your username at the top.
- Tap iCloud.
- Tap "Manage Storage" to see details on how each app and service uses your storage.
How to reduce iCloud storage space
delete old backups
iCloud stores all your app data, so it's possible that apps and devices you're not using right now are backed up automatically. You can free up space by deleting old backups.
How to delete old backups:
- Open the Settings app and tap your username at the top.
- Tap iCloud.
- Tap "Manage Storage" - "Backup". Select your device.
- Turn off the button of the app data you want to delete, and tap "Turn off and delete".
Delete the largest "Photo" data
When checking the capacity of iCloud, it is common that photos and videos take up the most capacity. Photos and videos are saved automatically when iCloud Photos is turned on. Disabling and deleting them will free up a lot of space.
How to delete "Photos" data:
- Open the Settings app and tap your username at the top.
- Tap iCloud.
- Tap "Manage Storage" - "Photos".
- Tap Deactivate and Delete.
Some people worry that deleting the photo data on iCloud will also delete the photos saved on the iPhone itself.
If you've previously set Optimize iPhone Storage, full-resolution versions will be backed up to iCloud to free up space, and your iPhone's photos will be replaced with smaller versions. So if you download the full resolution version before deleting iCloud photos, you don't have to worry.
How to download iCloud photos:
- Open the Settings app, scroll down and select the "Photos" item.
- Turn off iCloud Photos.
- Tap Download Photos & Videos.
- After the download is complete, you can proceed to Disable and Delete iCloud Photos.
Review items in iCloud backup
Installed apps are automatically backed up to iCloud. There is actually no need to back up SNS such as Twitter and Facebook. Review your iCloud backup items and remove apps that don't need to be backed up.
How to review items in your iCloud backup:
- Open the Settings app and tap your username at the top.
- Tap iCloud.
- Under "Using iCloud", turn off any apps you don't want backed up.
Remove content you no longer need
Photos, videos, temporary files, cached data, etc. all consume iCloud storage space. You can increase the storage capacity of iCloud by deleting content that you no longer need.
Remove content you no longer need:
- Delete unnecessary photos and videos
・Delete folders and files saved in iCloud Drive
- Delete texts and attachments received in the Messages app
- Delete email messages
・Delete voice memos
How to purchase a paid plan for iCloud and increase storage
If you really want to keep your photos and videos in iCloud, the easiest way to do it is to upgrade to a paid plan for iCloud and increase your storage.
iCloud offers four plans ranging from 5GB to 5TB. If you choose the 200GB and 2TB plans, you can even share the storage with your family.
| plan | Monthly fee (tax included) | Annual amount (tax included) |
|---|---|---|
| 5GB | 0 Yen | 0 Yen |
| 50GB | 130 yen | 1560 yen |
| 200GB | 400 yen | 4800 yen |
| 2TB | 1300 yen | 15600 yen |
How to purchase a paid plan for iCloud:
- On the iCloud storage management screen, tap "Upgrade" in the "iCloud Storage" item.
- Select a plan and tap "Buy" above.
Should you buy iCloud storage:
- iCloud is very convenient to use between Apple products such as iPhone, iPad, and Mac, so it is recommended for those who have multiple Apple devices. In addition to iCloud, there are many other cloud services out there. I think you should compare them and choose the one that suits you best.
